Improvement in hatchets



BQH. MORRISON.

.Hatchets.

Patentedluly 21,1s74.

\VitneSse's 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT H. MORRISON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HATCHETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,364, dated Ju y 21, 1874; application filed May .29, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT H. MORRISON, of San Francisco city and county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Hatchets; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly .appertains to make and use my said invention without further invention or experiment.

My invention consists in constructing a hatchet so that it can be converted into a hand-adz by simply rotating the head of the hatchet in the handle until its blade stands at right angles to the handle. A suitable lock or fastening is provided, by which the hatchet-head is secured in either position. A claw is provided at one side of the handle for drawing nails, thewhole forming a simple and very convenient hand-tool for carpenters and other persons who use a hatchet.

For a more complete description of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a view, showing the tool as a hatchet. Fig. 2 is a section, showing the operation of the catch. Fig. 3 is a view, showing the tool as an adz.

A is the handle of the tool. The hatchethead B has a portion, equal to the thickness of the end of the handle, turned down so as to form a journal, d, between the blade and hammer end. A suitable box is constructed on the end of the handle, in which this journal or turned portion is secured, so that the hatchethead can rotate in the end of the handle.

. In the present instance, I have represented a metal strap, 0, which is bent at its middle, so that its ends will pass along each side of the handle, where they are secured by screws or otherwise. The bend of this strap passes around the journal 61 of the hatchet-head, and the end of the handle'is hollowed out so that a box is provided in which the journal fits. A

claw, G, is formed on the strap 0, so as to project out at one side of the bend, and thus provide a means for drawing nails. To secure the hammer-head in the positions above mentioned, I make an inverted V- shaped slot or notch, t, in the flange or head over the journal, in the proper position to allow a wedge, 0, to enter it. This wedge is secured to the end of a spring, 1), the opposite end of which is secured to the upper side of the handle, a short distance from the head, so that by pressing upon the free end of the spring the wedge will be forced down out of the notch and the hatchet-head allowed to turn. The notches i are placed in the proper positions to allow the wedge to fix the hatchet-head in the hatchet and adz positions.

By this means I provide a very convenient tool for carpenters, plasterers,and other workmen, which can be used as a hatchet, hammer, or adz. I

I disclaim the combination of devices shown in the patent issued to S. F. Streeter, No. 145,252, December 2, 1873.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The swivel hatchet-head B with its notches i, in combination with the handle A and locking-wedge 0, or equivalent device,

substantially as and for the purpose above described.

2. The swivel hatchet-head B with its journal d and inverted V- shaped notches, in combination with the handle A, strap a withits claw G, and the spring 1), with its lockingwedge 0, all combined and arranged to operate substantially as above described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

ROBERT HENRY MORRISON. [L. 8.]

\Vitnesses JNo. L. Room 0. M. RICHARDSON. 

